Minnesota’s cities face a similar quandary – accelerate spending to make up for five years of tight budgets?

Or hold the line?

Thanks to a generous 2013 Minnesota Legislature, our local governments have much to cheer about.

In previous editorials, we urged the Legislature to fund all-day kindergarten and beef up preschool programs. Those steps were essential to address our huge achievement gap and strengthen our education model.

Our cities, counties and townships will also benefit as the state flows $302 million in additional funds to the local level.

Local government aid (LGA) was redefined, and future allocations stabilized, to the tune of $130 million. The impact on some cities is dramatic: Coon Rapids, for example, will receive $934,494 million in 2014, up from zero in 2013. Anoka’s LGA will increase by from $901,095 in 2013 to $1,547,441 in 2014, but Blaine will continue to get zero.

Cities, counties and townships get another break Jan. 1, 2014, when they become exempt from almost all state sales taxes. That means saving 6.875 percent on all purchases, an estimated $172 million over the biennium.

A state-mandated levy limit sets some controls. With a few exceptions (disaster expenses and debt repayment, for example), local governments will be limited to a 3 percent increase in tax rates.

Still, local governments can choose to spend extra revenues as they wish, or they can choose to hold spending, returning extra dollars to the property owner through reduced taxes.

Gov. Mark Dayton and the DFL-controlled Legislature called the sales tax exemption “property tax relief,” but cities are not bound to cut levies in return. Cities are required to publicize how much they paid in sales tax in 2012, but they can spend the funds as they wish, within the bounds of the 2014 levy limit.

The Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence says the additional funds ($130 million in general aid and $172 million in the sales tax exemption) “… create a very rich environment for spending increases with little, if any, short term property tax repercussions.” Public employee unions will strongly seek a piece of the pie, after several years of zero or very low wage increases, the center warns.

“Meanwhile, the most generous and broadly accessible property tax refund programs in the nation become even more generous and accessible, insulating more citizens from more of the cost of operating local governments,” the center says, in a policy paper called “Third Time Is Not a Charm.”

These are legitimate concerns. Our local governmental leaders are aware of the cuts they have made to staff and to services. Consumers understand the feeling: It would be wonderful to restore everything to pre-recession levels.

Citizens need to become involved today. Cities are now working on 2014 budgets, anticipating the Sept. 15 deadline for preliminary levies. (Cities must deliver a preliminary levy to the county mid-September. That amount becomes the maximum it can levy in 2014. They are allowed to go lower as the final budget is created – and most cities do.)

All property owners will get a statement of estimated taxes due around Nov. 1. However, much of the budgeting process has been completed by then, so if you wish to help influence your city’s spending, speak promptly.

Do you think every extra penny should go back to the homeowner in lower property taxes?

Do you think your city should restore staff cuts to the police department?

Are there fees for park and recreation programs that could be reduced?

The great majority of the 250 cities within ECM’s coverage area operate with transparency. They welcome citizen input. Check your city’s website for contact information. Send an email to your mayor and city council.

Read your local ECM newspaper. We’ll be reporting the process, from early discussions, to the preliminary levy, to the final budget.

Study your property tax statement. Read it thoroughly and learn what each unit of government charges you for its services.

Attend your truth-in-taxation hearings in November.

Write a letter to the editor with your ideas and concerns.

Our economy is better. We feel relief as jobs return, housing rebounds and fiscal tensions ease. Now, think about the needs and wants in your community, and become part of the decision-making process.

Editor’s note: This editorial is a product of the ECM Editorial Board. The ABC Newspapers are a part of ECM Publishers Inc.